“Yours Truly, Miss Chinatown,” a feature documentary five years in the making, will debut at the Los Angeles Asian American Film Festival, the most prestigious festival of its kind in Southern California, on Saturday, May 3rd, at 4pm at the Director’s Guild on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

Set against the backdrop of glittering crowns, colorful dresses, and lively dance music in one of the oldest and biggest ethnic pageants in the United States, this documentary features the intimate stories of some unforgettable young women who vie for the title Miss Los Angeles Chinatown, while struggling to find themselves in two cultures with different values and expectations. The crown is a link to the past, while the women’s lives are a sign of the changing times.

A beautiful and poised teacher is the perfect candidate but a disappointment in her father’s eyes because her boyfriend is African American; a half White, half Chinese tomboy joins the pageant because she thinks it will make her more Chinese. Meanwhile, a Miss Chinatown imposter shows up around town – she wears a sash and gown, but sports a cigar, granny glasses, and tells bad jokes. Turns out she is really performance artist Kristina Wong, who grew up in the shadow of Miss Chinatown but found that she could never live up to this ideal image. If she couldn’t beat them, she figured she’d join them.

Documentary cameras follow the lives of these three subjects for several years, at a pivotal time as they are just starting to find out who they are as women. As the drama of their lives unfold, so do frank conversations about romantic relationships, familial dynamics, body image, mental health, career, and identity. What emerges are some of the rarely heard voices of young Asian American women at the turn of the 21st century.

Watch the trailer for “Yours Truly, Miss Chinatown”

P.S.
While you are in the Los Angeles area, check out the Pacific Islander Festival. the event celebrates the heritage, traditional culture, and the arts of the indigenous cultures of Polynesian, Micronesian, and Melanesian communities of Los Angeles with authentic ongoing stage performances. The event will also features island villages with hands-on-demonstrations, traditional arts presentations, and ethnic food to enjoy.

WHEN: May 3 and 4, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
SITE: Harbor Regional Park, Wilmington – Harbor City